Electricity + Control April 2015

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ROUND UP
Egypt’s power generation capacity to
be massively increased
Siemens and the Egyptian government have reached firm agree-
ments today to build a 4,4 GW combined-cycle power plant and
install wind power capacity of 2 GW. Siemens will build a factory
in Egypt to manufacture rotor blades for wind turbines, creating
up to 1 000 jobs and therefore nearly trebling Siemens’ footprint
in the country. Including two further Memorandums of Under-
standing (MoU) which were signed at the event, Egypt’s power
generation capacity will bemassively increased by up to one third
mostly by 2020. Under the agreements, Siemens will propose to
build additional combined cycle power plants with a capacity of
up to 6,6 GW and ten substations for reliable power supply.The
agreements were signed at the Egypt Economic Development
Conference in Sharmel-Sheikh in the presence of Egypt’s Minister
of Electricity Shaker al Markabi, Germany’s vice chancellor Sigmar
Gabriel, and Joe Kaeser, president and chief executive officer of
SiemensAG. “Egypt needs a powerful and reliable energy system
to support its long-term, sustainable economic development, and
experienced partners who understand the specific challenges
facing the country”, said Joe Kaeser. “Siemens’ technology and
expertise has been supporting Egypt’s growth for more than
150 years, and our track record shows that we deliver what we
promise - also in challenging times.We are part of Egypt’s society
and proud to shape Egypt’s future together.”
Enquiries: Email
ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY
Annual Renewable Energy
Outlook 2014
New analysis fromFrost & Sullivan, Annual Renewable Energy Outlook
2014, forecasts the global installed capacity of renewable energy to
more than double from 1,566 gigawatts (GW) in 2012 to reach 3,203 GW
in 2025 at an average annual growth rate of 5,7 %. Solar photovoltaic
(PV) technology is expected to account for 33,4 % of total renewable
energy capacity additions over the 2012-2025 period. Wind follows
closely at 32,7 %, ahead of hydro power at 25,3 %. Other renewable
technologies will represent the remaining 8,6 % of capacity additions.
However, economic difficulties in many parts of the world are affect-
ing the outlook for renewable energy. In much of the Western world,
the weak economic climate has impacted support schemes, which will
continue to be the lifeline for many renewable energy installations until
grid parity is achieved. For complimentary access to more information
on this research, please visit:
Rosatom is ready to empower Africa
Rosatom presented an overviewof the current trends in the development
of nuclear energy as well as the company’s vision for South Africa,during
the annual Nuclear Africa Conference held on the 18 and 19 March
2015. The renowned annual conference was held at Necsa’s Visitors
Centre in Pelindaba, North West Province and was intended to develop
a positive and proactive approach to the nuclear power planning and
implementation process in South Africa, as well as to provide a forum
for people to access the entire spectrum of expertise from research and
development, to the construction and fabrication of nuclear power as-
semblies and installations. Speaking at the conference, Rosatomdirector
of the international business department, Nikolay Drozdov noted that
there were a number of new developments within the Russian Nuclear
Industry. One of these developments is the use of nuclear reactors for
desalination purposes, and Rosatom believes this could be part of the
solution to combat the ever worsening water crisis in Africa.
Enquiries: Email
Eskom tariff increase from 1 April 2015
Eskom confirms that the price increase to be implemented on 1 April
2015 to Eskom direct customers is still 12,69 % and for municipalities
will be 14,25 % from 1 July 2015 as approved by the National Energy
Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) during November 2014. Eskom’s cur-
rent financial position, as a result of historical non-cost reflective tariffs
and the lag in recovery of eligible expenditure, does not afford Eskom’s
balance sheet the ability to pre-fund further costs that are necessitated
by a constrained power system such as short term power purchases
from independent power producers and municipal generators and the
increased use of open cycle gas turbines. These constraints have neces-
sitated Eskom to explore options for further review of tariff increases
for the 2015/16 financial year.
Enquiries: Email
55 April ‘15 Electricity+Control